Trigger More Questions

The most powerful opening lines are never questions but statements that trigger more questions than they answer.

— Roy Williams

Trigger more questions

I noticed something interesting about bestselling books and movies a few years ago. Almost all of them had titles or names with only three words.

This observation seemed contrary to the advice given by most, if not every, expert on how to write an attention-getting headline or title.

Several headline analyzers on the web can help refine your headlines. However, none of them score three-word headlines very high or even acceptable at all—the headline for this article rated near the bottom of the scale at 28.

I typically focus my attention for 15 to 60 minutes on coming up with the best headline possible.

While it's great if the headline attracts more attention, I'm really looking to uncover the authentic core message in as few words as possible.

Not because experts were now advising us to do so but because I was observing something different.

Despite all the advice to the contrary, I adopted short headlines starting on day one and every article since on the SpaceB blog. The very first blog post was Meeting the Future back in May 2020.

Short, authentic messages that create curiosity are more powerful in connecting with people. People crave an authentic message that connects with them in today's noisy world.

You can't be authentic if you aren't looking deep inside to penetrate the many years of your own habits and social conditioning.

What have you observed that's contrary to what most other people believe or practice?

— Bill

‌

We're trying to tap into something that makes you want to lean forward and pay more attention. And I'm giving cues to look for in yourself because it all has to do with the artist.
— Rick Rubin